Burr’s judicial filibuster part of a pernicious pattern

Raleigh’s News & Observer was kind enough to publish this morning an essay I wrote on Richard Burr’s ongoing and inexcusable silent filibuster of President Obama’s nominee to fill the vacancy on the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

One thing I didn’t have space to mention in the N&O piece, however, is that Burr’s absurd obstructionism is part of a broader and pernicious pattern; the GOP has been blocking and delaying Obama’s court nominees simply as a matter of course for years. Even nominees who end up getting confirmed unanimously often find themselves waiting for months (or even years) for a simple hearing and up or down vote that ought to take a matter of weeks.

To see the extent of the ongoing and growing national judicial vacancy crisis, check out the “Why Courts Matter” website maintained by the good folks at the Center for American Progress.

One warning: The information contained therein may provoke you to put your fist through your computer monitor.

NitWitCharmer

American representatives like Burr are right to stand astride the appointment of unAmerican liberals.

david esmay

October 23, 2013 at 6:10 pm

Hey doog’s got a new name! UnAmerican liberals, love the jingoism behind right wing delusions. Liberals founded this country.

NitWitCharmer

October 23, 2013 at 8:35 pm

No party that stands against the Tea Party can also be American.

david esmay

October 24, 2013 at 9:22 am

The Tea Party isn’t a political party, but it is a propaganda tool created and funded by the Koch brothers. Like the Know Nothings of the 19th century, the TPer’s will die a very public death and will be the butt of jokes for generations to come.

Alan

October 24, 2013 at 10:24 am

NWC,

Only the Tea Party economic terrorists could be described as un-American. It’s a sad collection of low IQ, rednecks, yahoos, birthers, deathers, Beckers, civil war reenactors, Gaston flag waving, closet racists. But apart from that, I’m sure they’re a bunch of fine, upstanding citizens.

NitWitCharmer

October 24, 2013 at 12:40 pm

The Tea Party isn’t a political party, but it is a propaganda tool created and funded by the Koch brothers.

Am I correct to assume that you believe it is wrong that the Tea Party is receiving a small portion of its funding by those who support individual liberty?

If so, what is wrong with Americans supporting a cause in which they believe?

Perhaps it is more unAmerican to deride others for being quintessentially American.

NitWitCharmer

October 24, 2013 at 12:53 pm

The Tea Party actually waives things like the Constitution because its members read and internalize the Constitution rather than simply read the interpretations of others. Americans read and quote the Constitution while unAmercan Democrats read and quote only the interpretations of other.

The Tea Party does things like dress like the founders and waive the Gadston Flag in a show of solidarity with the thinking of the founders that puts the individual above collective governance.

The Tea Party believes in sound economic practices that do not include the Keynesian embrace of debt spending, the monetarist embrace of Quantitative Easing or the Democrat/Republican embrace of both because they recognize both for not only the failure in governance they they represent, but the dismal future they beget.